A home inspection only takes a few hours of your time but the impact it has can stay with you for years. A home inspector who knows what they’re doing can help you make the best possible choice about a home purchase. A lazy or unqualified home inspector can leave you saddled with a home that’s falling apart.

As you can see it’s important that you choose wisely when selecting who will perform your home inspection, but how can you separate the good from the bad? Fortunately, you don’t have to be a home inspector yourself to know what makes a good one. Here are 5 tips for choosing a home inspector.

1. Ask around: do they have a good reputation?Reputation is very important in this business, and any home inspector worth their salt will leave a positive impact on the people they work with. Conducting interviews of prospective inspection companies gives you the opportunity to ask important questions, and you could even ask your real estate agent if they've had any experience with them. The more sources you consult the more likely it is that you'll get an accurate picture of their reputation, so don't be afraid to check multiple places.

2. Make sure they are licensed.In Florida you must be fully licensed and insured in order to call yourself a home inspector, which is not the case in many other states. Still, it never hurts to double check. If you're skeptical at all of their qualifications don't hesitate to ask for a copy of their license for verification. A good home inspector won't take it personally. They understand that this a huge decision that you can't afford to take risks with.

3. Don’t make price the deciding factorYou get what you pay for. Nowhere is this more true than with a home inspection. However, that's not to say that a more expensive inspector will always be better. The point is that you shouldn't just immediately jump at the cheapest option. If a price seems too good to be true and is way out of line with what other inspectors are quoting then you should remain skeptical.

4. Don’t be afraid to ask them questionsA good home inspector will be happy to answer any questions you have. This is a complicated process and they want what's best for you, even if you choose not to work with them. Ask about their methods, how long they've been working in the business, and what kind of background they have. Questions like these will help you determine if they're the right fit for you.

5. Ask for a sample reportThe report is one of the most important parts of a home inspection. A good home inspector will be happy to share samples with prospective clients. A good report will be detailed and precise, describing the exact nature of the problem and the steps needed to fix it. They will also include photos when necessary. The most important thing to keep in mind here is that if their sample report is just a basic checklist then they aren't doing their jobs properly.

Please contact us at Super Inspection Pros. today to learn more about our home inspection process or to schedule an inspection. You can check out more helpful home inspection tips at our website.